We Moved!

We made the big move 4.5 weeks ago and are slowly starting to feel settled. Moving with a youngster has proved to be slightly challenging (read: unpacking with Avery around is literally counterproductive). We take out; she puts back. We move the empty boxes to the living room, she slides them all over the house whilst putting random objects inside said boxes thus providing for more unpacking. It was all fun and games until Jeff and I realized we’ve been here for over a month and the place still looks like we’re squatters. Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic. And really, I shouldn’t blame the slow progress on a two year old. It’s more than just her, but she’s more fun to talk about than the fact that Jeff and I work a lot, have busy lives and do enjoy a little late night mindless TV without our attention being on the boxes at hand.

The house is one thing, but the neighborhood?! Well, that’s just Candyland hopped up on Skittles and milkshakes. There are 18 homes on our cul-de-sac, which in and of itself is great…not a lot of cars driving through, plenty of room for the kids to play, etc. These 18 homes have all been built within the last five months, so everyone is the “new neighbor,” and we’re all in the same boat with unpacking, settling in, meeting each other and so on. Want the kicker?! Within these 18 homes are 21 kids between the ages of one and 12 with the majority landing on the younger side. Oh, and you can’t forget about the two babies on the way, which will make the count 23 come June. This is kid paradise. Jeff calls it “constant recess.” And, along with lots of kids come lots of awesome parents. Score!

Here are some photos of our house and neighborhood. I will take more once our place is picture perfect.

The night before the big move - pizza and family at our new home!

The Simpsons chowing down, planning the move.  Blurry and all.

Ready for some more big news??

Avery is potty trained! Wahoooo! She exceeded my expectations completely and “got it” within an hour. I have to be honest though, “getting it” is close, but not exactly the same as “getting it and applying it.” We’ve had a few accidents, but way less than I anticipated. I almost cried when she officially went potty for the first time…partly because I was so proud and amazed and partly because she looked so proud and amazed.

In related “big girl” news, Avery is now sleeping in a toddler bed. While this is a great feat, it was spurred on because she jumped out of her crib twice in three days. Thankfully, she never got hurt, but minimizing her risk was a top priority. Avery has had a little trouble adjusting to nights in our new house and our once perfect nighttime sleeper is currently battling some nighttime woes. We are making progress and are keeping positive that Sleeping Beauty returns soon.

Things come in three, right? You betcha! More news - Avery’s hair is now long enough where we can put it in pigtails! So stinking cute. As long as you distract her with candy or TV, she will let you “do a do.” It’s fun and she looks adorable! Jeff and my Mom wanted us to grow her hair out. I was hard to convince because I love her pixie cut. We’ll see what she prefers. She is bound to have an opinion shortly.

Pigtails and potty training.  Busy weekend at the Simpsons!

We will keep the updates coming, so check back soon!

FPT

Cooking with Papa during one of our last nights with my folks... =)

Baby, It's Cold Outside

I saw a really funny picture on Pinterest the other day that made me laugh.

So true.  So very, very true.  It was in the 50’s this past weekend and we nearly froze to death.  Our big outing Friday evening was going to the mailboxes four houses down.  Avery was bundled; I was bundled.  Yet, we felt like we were getting frostbite around house #2, so it turned into the fastest mailbox outing on record.

I forgot to post a picture of Avery’s beloved backpack in my last post, so here it is in all its ladybug glory…

This post is a mishmash of updates, but I’m going with it and am hopping on to the next topic...  New Years at the Taits!

We ate a delicious meal, had a fun jam sesh and the kids played their tushes off.  Both Avery and Cody were sad when it was time for us to leave.  Heck, I think we all were.  I should admit, though, that we didn’t stay late enough to ring in the New Year (not even East Coast New Year!).  We stick to bedtimes in this family and Avery was sound asleep in her bed at 7:30 p.m. and Jeff and I followed suit after we watched the anxiety-inducing, horrendoulsy crowded scene in New York.  Just in case that needs further explaining…spending New Years in New York is something I have zero desire to do. Ever.

FPT
No matter how cold, this one can always go for a good swing.

Christmas Recap...

...in mid-January?!

But, wait! I have a good excuse! We sold our townhome (herein referenced “house”) and have spent every moment of the past two weeks packing and moving, moving and packing.

Jeff and I bought the house a few months after we got married, so this is where we started the journey of our life as The Simpson Family. This is the house where we brought home our first pet…our wonderful rescue, Belle, who, as much as we talk about giving her away because she sheds so much it’s like a cruel joke, is truly a wonderful pet to have. This is the house where we have hosted countless dinners and gatherings of friends and family…too many special holidays and events to name. I do have to laugh, though, because times have surely changed in regards to this “hosting” I speak of. Back in the day louder, drunker and later parties were the norm. Nowadays, they’re more intimate, sober and scheduled around Avery’s bedtime.

Speaking of Miss Avery, isn’t it so obvious that she is the number one reason why this house means so much to us?! This was the house where we told our parents we were expecting their first grandchild; this was the house that we shared the big reveal with our extended family that we were having a girl. This is the house we brought our tiny newborn home to…where countless friends and family stopped by to meet her for the first time. I could go on and on (more), but I won’t. You get the idea. This house has meant the world to us and while we are sad to leave, we are excited for the journey ahead. We will share more about our future house later this month. For the time being, just know that we are happier than can be to be living with… my parents! Heyooo to home glorious cooked meals, laundry service and popcorn and tea every night!

Woah, Steph, this post was supposed to be about Christmas…

To say Christmas was fun this year would be a cosmic understatement. Spending the holiday with a two year old who “gets it” is just about the greatest thing in the world. From Elf on the Shelf and all the books about Rudolph to the Christmas-themed parties and fun treats, Avery was in paradise! Side note – while Avery enjoyed Elf on the Shelf, she was slightly weary of her (yes, her) and never wanted to get too close. When we told her to share with “A” what she wanted so she could tell Santa, Avery would stand pretty far back and sweetly say “backpack.” It was so cute, but I just hope the whole thing didn’t creep her out too much.

Here are some pictures to help recap the holiday…(I usually do captions, but the blogging site is broken and I had to use html...anyways, just write your own captions this time around...)  =)

FPT
Hell froze over and then the fat lady sang...

'Tis the Season

You can't forget one of the more crucial steps in Christmas preparations...lights!

We were fortunate enough to see Griswaldy lights twice this year.  The first time was up in Tustin in Auntie Moosh, Uncle Brennan and Cousin Helen's neighborhood.  What a special evening this was!

Avery and Auntie Moosh making dinner

Now that her pants are on, it's time to go see the lights.

Papa pulls the way!

Mesmerized by the lights...the many, many lights.

Christmas Vacation (aka - Griswald) house.

Ha!  Look at those faces.  Loving all action!

Merry Christmas!

Why, Merry Christmas again!

The next light adventure was with the Goad, Kull and Vanderveen group.  Love these guys! (Note: all the credit for these pictures is owed to Amanda.  My iPhone has zero room for pictures and we have yet to invest in a camera.  Gah!)

Miss Audrey Vanderveen - cute as a bug in a rug.

Avery and Quinn... excited much?!

This is a great photo.  How can you not smile looking at it?

Avery's new love - trains!

Cheers to more fun with this group in 2013!

FPT

What a trooper.

Christmas Preparations

Christmas Preparation - Step 1: Meet Santa.

Thankfully, Santa made a special stop in San Elijo Hills last weekend to meet all the little girls and boys, so we hopped down the street for a visit.  I liked this Santa.  Quality man who I literally think was Santa.  And, he gave out cool Christmas straws to the kids. 

Note: the kid in front of Avery freaked out.  Big time.  Poor kid was hysterical and his parents kept throwing him back on Santa's lap.  Just to get one picture?  Come on, people!  So anyways, that freaked Avery out.  She gave Santa a high five, but preferred Jeff and I to sit with her during her Santa picture.  We just got finished with a run, so we were sweaty and wearing way too much black to ever be "bright and cheery" for this type of picture, but it's cool.  Santa doesn't judge.

Oh yeah, "baby" sat with us.  Oh yeah, Avery was still a little too freaked to smile.

Christmas Preparation - Step 2: Go to a tree lighting and/or parade. 

We met up with some friends for the Encinitas tree lighting and parade.  Super fun and "Christmasy," and we'll be doing it for years to come.

Best seat in the house.

All the kiddos plus a few of the parentos

Christmas Preparation - Step 3: Party with your friends.

We spent last Saturday afternoon with a group of friends who all, as of November 17, 2012, have kids!  Welcome, Henry Kastner Martinez!  He's gorgeous and has a fascinating head of hair.

Avery and Cole.  Avery is really into babies and jumped at the chance to hold this cutie!

I love this photo.  Happy kid (always) who loves to eat.

Stone, Morgan, Avery, Cole, PK and Cody.

Avery and Cody - adorbs.

Look at these two!

I swear he's eying the person behind me like that...not actually me.  (?!)

Love this group!

Christmas Preparation - Step 4: Make candy canes with Rice Crispies.

We are so in the Christmas spirit over here.

Christmas Preparation - Step 5: Try on all of your hats to make sure they still fit.

This is cuteness in your face!

FPT

What is it that made Avery lick Cole's head?  And, what was she thinking when she did it?!

Namaste

We Simpsons dabble in yoga every now and then.  By "we Simpsons" I mean everyone on the Simpson side save Jeff.  I think he would like it (possibly) and it would help him become more flexible (definitely)...and might even help his back (possibly).  Maybe I should suggest yoga as his New Year's resolution?  Yeah, right.  The only way I see him getting into yoga is if a) there's a gun to his head or b) Avery bats her eyelashes and begins to wrap herself more tightly around his finger.

Downward dog...

If I was more of a frequent yoga-goer I would know this pose.  Gah! 

That tree pose is hard.  Good try, kid.

 FPT

Riding a "tiger" at the local Christmas tree farm is all about being fierce.  Clearly.